26 PROCEEDINGS OP THE 



afford some protection for the assembling birds from the gun- 

 ners who frequently disturb them; at least it gives them a 

 chance to reconnoitre before entering the roost, a precaution 

 which many flocks take, except those coming in at very late 

 hours. The shape of the roost is like that of a reversed map 

 of Africa, and the widest portion is on highest ground. 



In observing the birds assemble, I selected the Haddonfield 

 or northern side, where was a swampy meadow commanding a 

 wide view of the horizon north and west, out of which the great 

 bulk of birds approached. It should be stated that my dis- 

 covery of the roost was primaril)'- due to observing the regular 

 flight of Crow Blackbirds from 5.30 to 6 p. m. over my home, 

 81 Haddon Avenue, Haddonfield, during the latter part of 

 August of the present year. Every evening the line of flight 

 was remarkably true to a course over my little garden and cer- 

 tain lofty trees in my aunts' yard, thence over the Town Hall, 

 southward. The elevation of this aerial course was about one 

 hundred and twenty feet, or well above the highest tree-tops. 

 Occasionally the Blackbirds would alight in the woods just 

 behind the garden and gather acorns or pick gumberries with 

 the flocks of Robins there gathered, but that would be earlier 

 in the afternoon. There were about three or four thousand 

 Blackbirds in these flocks, and I supposed on discovering the 

 roost that there would be practically nothing but Blackbirds in 

 it. In this I was greatly mistaken, for though they formed the 

 bulk of roosting birds, there were hundreds of Robins, scores of 

 Starlings, dozens of Doves, and a large number of migratory 

 warblers, finches, thrushes and woodpeckers, nightly associated 

 with them in various parts of the wood. 



Probably a version of my verbatim field-notes, taken on the 

 ground, will give the most real picture of what went on at the 

 roost after the ' ' roosters ' ' began to arrive. 



"First visit. 4.30 p. m., searching for roost, walked beyond 

 it, when saw some Starlings flying over and back of me, as if to 

 shelter, so asked some boys who directed me to go back J mile. 

 Found roost, and a few Starlings in top of high tree near-by, 

 about 200 yards east of Snow Hill School House. More Star- 

 lings circle around, then all clear out. 5.12: first Grackles 



